Hollard marked 10 years of its Highway Heroes competition – a milestone that celebrates South Africa’s best truck and bus drivers and their vital role in keeping our roads and economy moving.

The 2025 Hollard Highway Heroes Awards took place at The Villa, Hollard’s head office in Parktown, where drivers, fleet managers, industry partners and guests gathered to honour the men and women who make our highways safer every day.

Over the past decade, Highway Heroes has grown into one of South Africa’s most respected road safety initiatives. What began as a way to encourage safer driving behaviour has evolved into a national movement that uses telematics and training to transform how professional drivers work on the road.

This year’s overall Highway Heroes of the Year, Matheus Namhindo and Lesedi Masiteng, were recognised for their exceptional driving performance and discipline on the road. Namhindo and Masiteng emerged as top performers among thousands of truck and bus drivers across South Africa, taking home close to R500 000 between them as well as the top title in this landmark 10^th edition of the competition.

In addition to the overall champion, winners were recognised across several categories, including:

Lesedi Masiteng – Category: Shorthaul – Unitrans Kloof

Gobatlamang Jairus Gabonewe – Category: Longhaul – Mega Bus Kuruman  

Magosana Noge – Category: Tipper – De Vre Trans (Pty) Ltd

Matheus Namhindo – Category: Tankers – Crossroads Distribution Namibia

Nonkoliso Jineneka – Category: Tautliners – Grainfoods Distributors (Pty) Ltd

David Makubu – Category: Flatdecks – DP World Consol

James Ndlovo –  Category: Refrigerated – Fairfield Long Haul

“I am so happy. I can’t believe I won. I never thought I would win. I have been driving for nearly 24 years and never really won anything. Today has been a big surprise for me and my family. I can’t wait to tell my daughters I won – I know they’ll be very proud of me,” says Namhindo.

For Tshegofatso Grace Botswe, the top female bus driver, this win is life-changing. She is a breadwinner at home who singlehandedly provides for her entire family. With tears in her eyes, she says, she is already gunning for top prize next year that will earn her a bigger title.

This year’s winners include more women than ever before – a reflection of the growing presence and influence of female drivers in the sector. For the first time this year, Hollard Highway Heroes went Pan-African including several finalists hailing from beyond South Africa’s borders, highlighting the regional reach of the competition and the essential role of cross-border transport in the economy.

“Hollard Highway Heroes is our Shared Value initiative, where we seek to make an impact at the core of road safety in South Africa and for the first time in neighbouring countries. For 10 years, Hollard has stood behind the people who carry our economy – the truck and bus drivers who spend long hours on the road so that goods, services and people can move safely,” says Paul Dangerfield, Head of Trucking. “Highway Heroes has helped turn uncertainty into certainty, showing how emphasising responsible driving can make our roads better, one driver at a time.”

Since its launch, Highway Heroes has helped reduce risky driving behaviour and prevent accidents through a data-driven approach. Drivers are monitored on factors such as speeding, harsh braking and fatigue, and rewarded for consistent improvement and professionalism behind the wheel.

The programme’s success also reflects Hollard’s belief in partnership. Each year, the initiative brings together insurers, fleet operators, technology providers, industry associations and government bodies to work toward a shared goal: safer South African roads.

This year’s milestone aligns with Hollard’s “Insure your unsure” brand positioning, which centres on reducing uncertainty and protecting what matters most. Highway Heroes demonstrates that principle in action, turning the unpredictability of the open road into a more secure and positive experience for drivers and the public alike.

“At its core, Highway Heroes is about people,” says Dangerfield. “It’s about creating a culture of care and accountability. For every kilometre driven safely, there’s a life protected – and that’s what we celebrate today.”

As Hollard Insure celebrates 10 years of Highway Heroes, the company looks ahead to the next decade of purpose – continuing to back South Africa’s professional drivers, and helping to build a country where everyone can get home safely.